Steffani: Stabat Mater

Steffanis Stabat Mater is his masterpiece, completed shortly before he died in 1728. It has been described as the most powerful expression of his religious fervour and, at almost half an hour, the largest-scale, most complex and heartfelt of his compositions outside his operas. The opening solo Stabat Mater dolorosa featured on the Mission DVD.

The album is completed by six world premiere recordings of the best of Steffanis remaining sacred music, including Sperate in Deo and Laudate Pueri. These are scored for orchestra, chorus and soloists featuring two young baroque-specialist sopranos Nuria Rial and Yetzabel Arias Fernandez alongside Behle, Pregardien and Vitale.

Also amongst these world premieres is Non plus me Ligate, a seven-minute solo motet for Cecilia Bartoli.

Released in the same month is an album of Steffanis greatest orchestral music Ouvertures et Danzes with Diego Fasolis and I Barocchisti.